Improvement in vents



.C. 0. H. LOEPEH.

Vents.

Patented Aug. 13, v1872.

No.13o,s79.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

o. o. HERMAN LoErER, oF ALBANY, NEw YORK., AssIGNoR To HIMsELF AND cHARLEs w. soHINDLER, oF sAME PLAGE.

IMPROVEMENT IN VENTS.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 130,379, dated August 13, 1872.

SPECIFICATION.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, C. 0. HERMAN LoEPER, of Albany, in the county of Albany and State of N ew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vents; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters of reference marked .thereon which form a part of this specication.

I n the vents most generally used for beerbarrels there are no means for stopping the circulation of gas or air from the barrel or keg; hence it is found that the beer will force its way to the vent and by this the vent-chamber will become slimy and sticky and soon be unable to work. To obviate this difficulty is the object of my invention, and to this end the nature of my invention consists in a universal swing or stop key in which the ventchamber is located, or passing through the same, and by means of which the communication of air with the vent may be closed, rendering it impossible for any beer to work its way to the vent and thereby keeping the vent clear of all substances.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation referring to the annexed drawing, in which- Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section, and Fig. 2 is a modification of the same.

A represents a conical tube or barrel having a passage, a, longitudinally from the smaller end upward for a suitable distance and terminating in a horizontal opening, through which passes a plug or key, B. This plug or key has an opening, i, in its under side corresponding with the upper end of the passage a and communicatin g with a passage, b, inthe key. rIhe passage b terminates in the vent-chamber 0, depending downward from the end of the key and in the lower end of which is screwed a hollow plug, D. The inner or upper end of this plug forms the valve-seat for the valve d,- the stem of which passes through the plug. The key B being turned as described-that is, the chamber downward-the vent-chamber is open; but by turning the same either to tbe right or left it will close communication of air with the vent, thus preventing any beer from working its way to the vent. After having' closed the vent and the process of tapping the keg is gone through with, the beer will run out the faucet for some time without giving any extra vent. As soon as the beer stops running the vent may be opened by turning from sidewise to downward, and the vent will work free without any beer having forced its way into the vent-chamber. The vent is also very easily cleaned at any time. on account of its simplicity. In place of the key B being formed with the vent-chamber as above described, it may be passed through the ventchamber, as shown in Fig. 2.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In vents for beer barrels or kegs, a swing or stop key arranged to close communication between the interior of the barrel or keg and the vent-chamber, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

C. O. HERMAN LOEPER.

Witnesses:

GEO. V. THACHER, CHAs. W. SCHINDLER. 

